Device for dividing ice-hockey rinks

ABSTRACT

A device for dividing an ice-hockey rink into at least two smaller rink parts comprises a plurality of straight sideboard elements (8a) and a plurality of curved sideboard elements (8b). The sideboard elements (8a, 8b) are provided with means (16, 20, 21) for interconnecting the same while forming a supplemental sideboard (8, 9) which when placed across the ice-hockey rink together with the stationary sideboard (1), encloses a smaller rink (5, 7) having symmetrical curved corners.

The present invention relates to a device which makes it possible torapidly and conveniently divide a regular ice-hockey rink into at leasttwo smaller enclosed rink parts, at least one of which has essentiallythe same shape as the regular rink, i.e. having curved and symmetriccorners.

A big problem in connection with ice-hockey training and matches forchildren and youngsters is that the regular ice-hockey rink is too big,so that the children/youngsters are unable to make use of the entirefield. Another--and related--problem is that comparatively fewchildren/youngsters can practice or play on the big rink simultaneously.Thus, the rink is poorly utilized, which is disadvantageous to theactivities for young players. An efficient utilization of the rink isdesirable, not the least because of the costs for renting the rink,which are often high.

It is an object of the invention to solve i.a. these and relatedproblems, and to this end there is according to the invention provided adevice for dividing, or partitioning, a regular ice-hockey rink intosmaller, enclosed areas, which device has been given the characteristicfeatures, which are indicated in the appended claims and will beexplained further below.

The invention will be explained in more detail in the followingdescription with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a conventional ice-hockey rink,which has been divided into three separate training sections by means oftwo supplemental sideboards according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a more detailed top plan view of a first embodiment of amounted supplemental sideboard according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and showing an alternative embodimentof the mounted supplemental sideboard according to the invention,

FIGS. 4a and 4b schematically show a first embodiment of a straightsideboard element according to the invention shown in side elevationalview and end view respectively,

FIGS. 5a and 5b show an alternative embodiment of a straight sideboardelement according to the invention in longitudinal section andcross-section respectively,

FIG. 6 is a schematic top plan view of one embodiment of a curvedsideboard element according to the invention,

FIG. 7 is a schematic detail view showing one embodiment of guide meansfor interconnecting two adjacent sideboard elements, and

FIG. 8 is a schematic detail view which in enlarged scale shows apreferred embodiment.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a conventional ice-hockey rink having astationary sideboard 1, a mid-circle 2, blue lines 3, goal areas 4, etc.According to the invention this full-scale rink has been divided intothree transversely extending smaller "rinks" or sectors 5, 6 and 7 bymeans of two mountable supplemental sideboards 8 and 9. Each suchsupplemental sideboard consists of a plurality of interconnectedstraight sideboard elements and curved sideboard elements. The straightsideboard elements are at a suitable distance from the end of thestationary sideboard 1, e.g. essentially at the respective blue line 3,the curved sideboard elements interconnecting between the outermost ofthe straight sideboard elements and the stationary sideboard 1. Thecurvature of the interconnected curved sideboard elements correspond tothe curvature of the corners of the stationary sideboard 1. In the caseshown in FIG. 1 there are thus formed two fully fenced-in or enclosed"mini hockey rinks" 5 and 7, essentially corresponding to the rink 1,but of smaller dimensions, and therebetween also the sector 6, which isalso fenced-in by the sideboards 8, 9.

Because of this division the ice-hockey rink 1 can be utilizedoptimally, e.g. as illustrated by the sketchings in FIG. 1. In this casethe mini ice-hockey fields 5 and 7 are used for game training with twogoals, whereas the mid-sector 6 is used for technique training, but thissector can, of course, also be used for other skating activities. Ofcourse, it is also within the invention possible to use only one of thesupplemental sideboards (8 or 9).

FIG. 2 is a more detailed illustration of the build-up of thesupplemental sideboard from individual straight sideboard elements 8aand curved sideboard elements 8b. In a preferred embodiment six straightsideboard elements 8a and three curved sideboard elements 8b at each endthereof are used for a normal size rink. Each sideboard elementessentially consists of an upright, actual sideboard portion 8c having asmooth inner surface, and support means 8d located on the outer side andserving to assist in keeping the supplemental sideboard in place whensubjected to strain during games and training (body checks, etc.). Thesupport means 8d can have different design for different sideboardelements, e.g. different design for straight and curved sideboardelements. Preferred embodiments of the support means will be describedbelow.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the straight sideboard elements 8aconsist of two actual sideboard parts 8c, which are kept secured at asuitable spacing (e.g. about 25 cms) by means of suitable cross-bars T(compare FIGS. 5a and 5b). Because of this construction the sideboardelements are substantially "self-supporting", and separate support means(corresponding to elements 8d in the embodiment of FIG. 2) can beomitted. When using this embodiment two mini-rinks 5a, 6a can beprovided next to each other.

FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate a preferred design of the straight sideboardsections in the embodiment of FIG. 2. The actual sideboard parts of eachstraight sideboard section consists of one (or possibly more) smoothsideboard plates 8c of a suitable material, such as hard plastic plates,to which are attached a plurality of supporting battens 10, preferablyprofiled aluminum tubes. In the shown preferred embodiment the samecomprise edge or margin battens 10a, horizontal mid-battens 10b, andvertical mid-battens 10c. In this embodiment the above-mentioned supportmeans 8d consist of a frame 11, which is pivotingly connected to theactual sideboard part 8c at the bottom thereof, e.g. by means of hinges12, so that the frame can be pivoted upwards from the horizontal workingposition shown in FIG. 4b to a transport position against the plate 8c.Further, there is provided one (or more) locking arms 13, one end ofwhich is pivotingly supported by the frame 11 by means of a joint 14,and the opposite end of which can be removably fastened (at 15) to thesideboard part 8c a certain distance from the bottom thereof, so as tokeep the sideboard part 8c firmly in a position perpendicular to thesupport frame 11 (and consequently to the ice).

In the straight sideboard elements or sections 8a the respective frame11 preferably has the same extension in the longitudinal direction asthe sideboard element, as is illustrated in FIG. 2. The curved sideboardelements 8b are constructed in analogy with the straight sideboardelements 8a just described, but as appears from FIG. 6 (see also FIG. 2)the support frame 11 only extends over part of the length of the curvedsideboard element (for the sake of simplicity), preferably starting fromone end thereof, so that the frame can be fastened to an adjacentsideboard element, as will be explained in connection with FIG. 8. Thecurved sideboard element of FIG. 6 can be used together with both of thetwo types of straight sideboard elements, i.e. those of FIG. 2 and FIG.3 respectively.

FIG. 7 illustrates suitable means for guiding adjacent sideboardelements into the correct mutual position. In this preferred embodimentthe sideboard sections 8a, 8b are, at the top and the bottom of oneshort end, provided with a projecting male means, e.g. a bevelled steelpin or a slotted square tube 16, fitting into corresponding female meansprovided in the adjacent sideboard section at said short end, and theother way around at the opposite short end. The male and female meansare preferably provided in the top and bottom light metal tubes 10a(e.g. square tubes of aluminum, 30×30×2 mm) of the sideboard elements.The female means may be formed by the very cavity of the square tubes10a.

FIG. 8 shows in more detail a preferred embodiment of a sideboardelement according to FIG. 4, certain parts of the support frame 11 andthe lock arm 13, as well as of the vertical edge batten 10a, beingomitted for space economy reasons (the edge batten 10a also beingparallel shifted).

FIG. 8 clearly illustrates how the support frame 11 is attached to oneof the horizontal battens 10a (carrying the sideboard plate 8c) by meansof the hinge 12. The sideboard plate 8c can e.g. be 6-8 mm thick WorblexPE5258. The construction is preferably such that the frame 11substantially only can be pivoted upwards in the hinge joint from theshown position, e.g. because of the frame 11 contacting the batten 10a.At the outer end the underside of the frame 11 preferably has a woodenfillet 11a for contacting the ice. If desired, the same can be providedwith a friction covering, projecting tips or pins 11b or the like forenhancing the grip with the ice. The outer end of the lock arm orclamping arm 13 is pivotable relative to the support frame 11 by meansof the shaft 14 and yoke 17 for the same. The opposite end of the arm 13is provided with a so-called eccentric lock 18, which cooperates with alocking pin 19 on the batten 10a. As is known such locks have a lockingring 18a, which is made to engage the locking pin 19, the clamping thenbeing performed by means of a tightening lever 18b, which is pressedagainst the support arm 13. As shown, the end of the latter ispreferably bevelled, with an angle corresponding to vertical position ofthe actual sideboard.

The above described supplemental sideboard can be mounted on a regularice-hockey rink very rapidly and conveniently. Each sideboard section ofthe described design (about 3 m long and made of the indicatedmaterials) does not weigh more than one man can carry it and mount it.Because the support frame 11 can be folded up towards the verysideboard, the section occupies little space when transported andstored. When unfolding the frame 11 to the position shown in FIG. 8 andtightening the eccentric lock 18, each section rests by itself on theice. The next section is mounted by bringing the male and female parts,serving as guiding and attachment means, into engagement with eachother. The sections are locked to each other by suitable locking meansacting between the end edge profiles of the up-right sideboard part, andalso by suitable locking means acting between the horizontal supportframes 11 of the two sideboard sections. The first-mentioned lockingmeans are schematically indicated at 20 in FIG. 4a, and the latter at 21in FIG. 2. Both locking means are preferably tightening devices,especially eccentric locks similar to the lock 18 for the support arm13. The thusly designed supplemental sideboard has proven to be veryexpedient and stable.

The invention is, of course, not limited to the embodiments, which havebeen specifically described above and shown in the drawings, but manymodifications and variations are possible within the scope of theappended claims and equivalents thereof.

I claim:
 1. A device in combination with an ice-hockey rink for dividingthe rink into at least two smaller rink parts, characterized in that itcomprises a plurality of straight sideboard elements (8a) and aplurality of curved sideboard elements (8b), and in that the sideboardelements (8a, 8b) are provided with means (16, 20, 21) forinterconnection thereof so as to form a supplemental sideboard (8, 9)which, when placed across the ice-hockey rink, together with thestationary sideboard (1) of the rink encloses a smaller rink (5, 7)having symmetrically curved corners.
 2. A device according to claim 1,characterized in that said interconnecting means comprise guide means(16, 10a), especially of the male/female type, for securing that thosesurfaces of the actual sideboard parts, which face the enclosed rink,are flush with each other when said sections are interconnected.
 3. Adevice according to claim 3, characterized in that said guide means areprovided both at the top and at the bottom parts of said actualsideboard part (8c).
 4. A device according to claim 1, characterized inthat each sideboard element comprises an upright, actual sideboard part(8c) and a support part (8d, 11), which is pivotingly carried by saidup-right part at the lower end thereof, said support part beingpivotable between a transport position, in which it is folded towardsthe actual sideboard part, and a working position, in which it isessentially horizontal and perpendicular to the actual sideboardpart(8c), that fastening means (13, 18, 19) are provided for removablysecuring said support part in said working position.
 5. A deviceaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the sideboard elementscomprise first locking means (20) for interlocking the actual sideboardparts (8c) of adjacent sideboard elements (8a, 8b), and second lockingmeans (21) for interlocking said support parts (8d, 11) of adjacentsideboard elements when the support parts are in the working position.6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that said first andsecond locking means (20 and 21 respectively) consist of clampingdevices of the eccentric lock type.
 7. A device according to claim 2,characterized in that said support part comprises a frame structure(11), especially of light metal profiled tubes, which is pivotinglyattached to the actual sideboard part via a hinged joint (12) and which,remote from the sideboard part, pivotingly carries one end of a supportarm (13), the other end of which in said working position can beremovably attached to the actual sideboard part (8c) remote from thebottom edge thereof by means of a clamping device (18).
 8. A deviceaccording to claim 7, characterized in that said clamping device (18) isof the eccentric lock type.
 9. A device according to claim 2,characterized in that the actual sideboard part (8c) essentiallyconsists of a plastic sheet (8c) carried by a frame structure (10) oflight metal profiled tubes.